Sign # 55 Museum of the Cherokee Indian

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“To preserve and perpetuate the history, culture, and stories of the Left: The Cherokee Cherokee people.” To accomplish this mission, the museum maintains a Museum, permanent exhibit, extensive artifact collection, archives, education located in downtown programs, artist series, and a museum store. The museum also publishes Cherokee, prior to moving to its the Journal of Cherokee Studies. present facility. Circa 1950.

The Museum of the Cherokee Indian opened in 1948 and moved to its Right: Depiction present facility in 1976. Its exhibit was totally renovated in 1998, when a of a Cherokee Medicine Man new 12,000-square-foot exhibit was installed. The museum is a non-proﬁt of the organization with 501(c)3 status. Mississippian Period.

The museum has helped to revitalize the stamped pottery tradition by creating and working with the Cherokee Potters Guild; traditional dance by sponsoring the Warriors of AniKituhwa; traditional 18th century Cherokee dress; feather capes; and language. Because of this work, the museum received the Community Traditions Award from the North Carolina Arts Council.

The Museum of the Cherokee Indian is open daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

The North Carolina mountains and foothills were designated the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area in recognition of their natural beauty and living traditions of music, craft, agriculture, and Cherokee culture. This location is part of a regional trail of distinctive heritage sites. Ask for information at area visitor centers.

Depiction of the Cherokee Delegation of 1762 who traveled to London to meet King George III. More information online at: www.blueridgeheritage.com Sign # 56 Oconaluftee Indian Village

“To perpetuate and preserve the history and culture of the Cherokee People.”

Owned and operated by the non-proﬁt Cherokee Historical Association, the Oconaluftee Indian Village opened its doors in the summer of 1952. This recreated Cherokee Village of the 18th Century sought to immerse visitors in the history and culture of the Cherokee People.

The Village is a time machine, transporting you back to the 18th Century, immersing you in the daily lives of Cherokee People. Learn more about the Cherokee People from traditional arts, weaponry, government, The Oconaluftee Indian Village Traditional Dancers Cherokee artist Amanda Swimmer, ceremony, dances, times of peace and times of war. perform the Corn Dance on the Village Square demonstrating how to make pottery at Grounds. the Oconaluftee Indian Village.

Through the years, the Oconaluftee Indian Village has become an institution of knowledge on the history, culture, language, and heritage of the Cherokee People. Hundreds of Cherokee Artists have played integral roles in the success of the Oconaluftee Indian Village. Through the mastering of traditional arts and crafts, to the preservation of the Cherokee language and even keeping traditional songs and dances alive, this institution continues to perpetuate and preserve history and culture for the beneﬁt of generations of Cherokee People to come.

The Oconaluftee Indian Village is open daily from early May to late October.

Demonstration of the Cherokee art of Finger Weaving, used to make belts, garters, sashes, shawls and blankets. More information online at: www.blueridgeheritage.com Sign # 57 Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, Inc.

Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, Inc. was founded in 1946, with the goal In testimony to the skill of its members, it of promoting the development, production, and marketing of unique was juried into the Southern Highland and authentic Cherokee arts and crafts. Known locally as the “co-op,” Handicraft Guild in 1949. In 1954, the co-op Qualla Arts and Crafts is one of the oldest Native American took its current name, Qualla Arts and Crafts cooperatives in the United States. Soon after its formation, the Mutual, Inc., when it was formally organization rented a storefront on Highway 441, a few miles from its incorporated under the State of North present location. Carolina. In 1960, the co-op moved to its present location and, in 1969, began Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, Inc. organizing exhibitions to showcase the work Rivercane single weave storage basket by Nancy Bradley. of its members. Basket weaver Eva Wolfe was the ﬁrst person to have her work exhibited. In 1976, the co-op’s building was renovated, adding large windows, native stone, and a new exhibit gallery.

In its earliest days, baskets were the mainstay of the young artisan cooperative, accounting for half its sales. Today, the co-op continues to attract collectors from all over the world and represents artists working in a variety of media. All items in the store are authentic, handmade Native American crafts with the majority of the work coming from Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians members. When sold, these and other crafts are tagged with a certiﬁcate of authenticity.

The North Carolina mountains and foothills were designated the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area in recognition of their natural beauty and living traditions of music, craft, agriculture, and Cherokee culture. This location is part of a regional trail of distinctive heritage Clemens Kalischer photograph; Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, Inc. Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, Inc.; photograph by W.M. Cline. sites. Ask for information at area visitor centers.

Ethelyn Conseen holds a rivercane basket at the Basket weaver, Nancy Bradley. entrance to Qualla Arts and Crafts. More information online at: www.blueridgeheritage.com

Sign # 58 Unto These Hills Outdoor Drama

“To perpetuate and preserve the history and culture of the Cherokee People.”

Owned and operated by the non-proﬁt Cherokee Historical Association, Unto These Hills Outdoor Drama made its debut to a sell-out crowd on July 1, 1950. Within its ﬁrst three years of operation the performance had repaid its debt. By its sixtieth anniversary in 2009, Unto These Hills had been performed before 6 million visitors.

Performed under the glow of summer stars, Unto These Hills Outdoor Drama tells the triumphant story of the Cherokee People. From the ﬁrst contact with Europeans, through the infamous and tragic Trail of Tears, Junaluska, from the original performance of Unto The Great Eagle Dance, from the original These Hills (1950-2005) before embarking on the Trail performance of Unto These Hills Unto These Hills brings Cherokee history and culture to life. of Tears. (1950-2005).

The Cherokee have re-written their place in history and Unto These Hills is reﬂective of the mantra “Our Story Lives”. Nowhere else in the world can you become truly connected to the history and culture of the Cherokee People. The people on stage are not only actors, in many instances they are directly related to the historical characters they portray.

Unto These Hills is the Cherokee story, as told by the Cherokee People. Unto These Hills is performed from June to mid-August, nightly except Sundays.

Selu, the Corn Mother, and Kanati, the Great Hunter, guide visitors through the story of the Cherokee People. More information online at: www.blueridgeheritage.com Sign # 59 Gem Mining

Left: Shopping at Long before the first settlers arrived here in 1818, this area teased explorers with one of three gem shows held annually hints of mineral wealth – especially gold, silver and copper. Not much interest in Franklin. was taken in Macon County’s gemstones until a farmer turned up some strange rocks while plowing his field in 1867. A local scholar identified the rocks as Right: Large Corundum from corundum and commercial mining began at Corundum Hill about 1871. Corundum Hill Mine.

Word of the corundum spread like wildﬁre. During this period, a red corundum crystal (ruby) was taken from Caler Creek, the gem-rich tributary of Cowee Creek. In 1895, the American Prospecting and Mining Company and Tiffany’s of Photo by Linda Mathias Franklin Chamber of Commerce

New York began actively searching for the source of Cowee’s rubies, which was thought to rival those of Burma. No mother lode was found and interest in large-scale mining of gemstones faded.

A book written about these gems in 1905 set the stage for the second wave of gem mining in Macon County. People would come here and pay farmers to mine on their land. In the early ﬁfties, Frank Wykle became the ﬁrst to open a mine like those here today. The mines were made famous in the mid-1960s by John P. Brady, a local reporter.

In 1974 the Gem & Mineral Society of Franklin established the Franklin Gem & Mineral Museum in the 19th Century jailhouse. Among the prized exhibits is a 49-pound corundum crystal from the old Corundum Hill mine.

Gem mining in one of the many mines located in Macon County. Photo by Eric Haggart More information online at: www.blueridgeheritage.com Sign # 60 Little Tennessee River Greenway

In 1997, Duke Power acquired unused property along the Little Tennessee River to build a new power line. After the line was completed, Duke deeded the property to the Town of Franklin and they enlisted Macon County to partner with them on the development of the Little Tennessee River Greenway. Two major grants were received to restore the riverbanks, build trails, picnic shelters and bridges across the river.

Providing a cornucopia of wildflowers and wildlife, the Greenway cuts a meandering path of nearly five miles through Franklin. Reflecting the extraordinarily rich diversity of the Macon County landscape, visitors Photo by Karen Lawrence Photos by Karen Lawrence The Greenway is an official N.C. Birding Trail in the Over 275 species of wildflowers are seen along the experience wetlands, stroll through two railroad cuts left behind by the Mountain Region. Greenway.

Tallulah Falls Railroad, wander alongside an old pasture, catch sight of the desert agave plant, and experience the upland woods. It is also an early migration quarter for birds and a unique distribution system for a large variety of seeds deposited alongside the river during periods of ﬂooding.

Friends of the Greenway, Inc. serve as good stewards of the Greenway, which in turn supports our economic development, heritage, recreation, health, environment, and a sense of community. Nothing in our community has garnered more pride than the Little Tennessee River Greenway, the envy of many communities.

Photo by Eric Haggart The Tassee Bridge across the Greenway near the convergence of Little Tennessee and Cullasaja Rivers. More information online at: www.blueridgeheritage.com Sign # 61 Nantahala Community and Lake

The Cherokee lived in this area for nearly 4,000 years, until European traders followed Indian paths to Western North Carolina. In 1838, when the Cherokee were being rounded up for the Trail of Tears removal to Oklahoma, they were detained at Camp Scott (now covered by water), near the mouth of Wine Spring Creek. Broken pottery, broken spearheads, arrowheads and other artifacts have been found in all areas of the Nantahala Community providing evidence of Native American villages.

Nantahala Lake was created in 1942 by the Nantahala Power Company to provide electricity for the war efforts. The power generated went to Tennessee smelteries for production of aluminum to build airplanes. Located in the Nantahala National Forest at an elevation of 3,012 feet, the lake is the second-highest lake east of the

Photo by Eric Haggart Photo by Eric Haggart Fishing from the banks of the Nantahala Lake. Yellow Lady Slipper which is found around Nantahala Lake. Mississippi. The lake now covers what was once the town of Aquone, a stagecoach stop between Asheville and Murphy, N.C.

The lake offers recreational opportunities that include swimming, boating and skiing with 29 miles of shoreline. Fishing is also popular - largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, trout, salmon, catﬁsh and many different species of pan ﬁsh are found here.

Nantahala Lake, still a major source of hydroelectric power, also supplies water to the Nantahala River, one of the nation’s top rafting, kayaking and ﬂy ﬁshing destinations.

Photo by Eric Haggart

The beautiful Nantahala Lake. More information online at: www.blueridgeheritage.com Sign # 62 The North Carolina Bartram Trail

The North Carolina Bartram Trail is a hiking trail to commemorate the 1775 visit of Philadelphia naturalist William Bartram to western North Carolina. Begun in the 1970s, the trail parallels Bartram’s actual route into Cherokee country. It begins at the Georgia state line and crosses the summit of Scaly Mountain and the Fishhawk Mountains before descending into the Tessentee Valley. From Franklin, it rises to the summit of Wayah Bald, its highest point, and drops to the Nantahala Gorge and then ascends to its William terminus at Cheoah Bald. Bartram by Charles Willson Peale, Courtesy Independence from life, National View of Whiterock and Fishhawk Mountains from Jones Knob c. 1808 Historical Park

The trail joins the Appalachian Trail at two points – Wayah Bald and Cheoah Bald. The North Carolina Bartram Trail provides a less-traveled alternative to the Appalachian Trail in Western North Carolina through some of the most spectacular natural habitat in the area.

William Bartram passed very near here on his visit to the “Middle towns” of the Cherokee nation, the principal town being Cowee, north of Franklin. Bartram describes his trip vividly in his well-known book, Travels, which contains the most complete existing description of the life of the Cherokee in the eighteenth century. The book was widely and eagerly read in Europe.

Images from the Bartram Trail: Waterfall and bridge at Wallace Branch; Bartram Trail Kiosk at Wayah Bald; and Flame azalea. More information online at: www.blueridgeheritage.com